I like stuff, and I love music.
You need stuff to play the music.
But I also like the stuff (hifi gear) for its own sake. It's kind of separate, but linked. Separate interests that support each other.
Music-wise, I'd be happy to go entirely virtual with no physical media at all, and that's what I do now. Not even hard drive storage.
I have kept my physical media (CDs and the ability to play them) only as an insurance covering having my music access beyond my control.
Some folks need the physical side of it, though.
They want to have it in their hands, feel it and fiddle with it. I say 'watch out for going blind'.
Different strokes for different folks.